Ram and Gautham Menon film begins...!!!

Shooting of Gautham Vasudev Menon and Ram's new love story began on Monday morning in Chennai. Gautham Menon is producing the film on his own banner Photon Kathaas. He is simultaneously making Telugu and Tamil versions like he did for Ye Maaya Chesave. Ram and Samantha are the pair for the Telugu version and Jiva and Samantha are doing the Tamil version, which is titled Neethane En Ponvasantham.

A.R.Rehman scores the music for the movie.

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Ram talks about Kandireega's success...!!!

Ram is brimming with joy as his latest release, Kandireega , has turned out to be a hit. Released last Friday, the film took great openings and got talk of a super hit. "It took better openings than my earlier blockbuster Ready . Some say it would surpass the collections of Ready. But I am happy that my decision of taking 15 months of gap to release this film turned out to be fruitful," he said. He met the media men at his residence on August 15th.

Big hit in overseas too

Kandireega took bumper openings in USA too. Bigger than Ready.

About director

Santosh Srinivas has joined the league of big directors now. He said he'd do another film with me. I am glad that he projected me in a different angle altogether and he put everything in this film.

On comments about mix of several movies

Some are saying it is mix of two or three films. I don't comment on that but people are enjoying it to the fullest. I saw Kandireega on the first day of its release in a theater and witnessed the euphoric response from the audiences. People are laughing constantly as the movie progresses. What matters is the acceptance of the audiences and success.

Comparisons with Ravi Teja

On comparing with Ravi Teja in the film, all I can say, I take it as a compliment.

Sonu Sood, Hansika and Aksha..

Yes, I have more screen space with Sonu Sood than Hansika and Aksha. Enjoyed working with them all. Thankfully, scenes between Sonu and I have come out so well. Hansika is matured girl now than when I worked with her in Maska. Aksha has great future.

Mahesh calls on

Mahesh Babu called on me and congratulated on the movie's success. He spoke at length and I thank you for his support. He and Tarak (NTR Jr) always encourage me.

Clashing with Dhada

It was unfortunate to clash with another big movie. I think in future, our producers should plan the releases in co-ordination with other producers when two films are ready for release. Today, Telugu films are having tough time at Box-office, so success of a Telugu film is important to the industry. Clashing with another film should be avoided. 

Next movies

I have finished first schedule of Karunakar's movie Endukante Premanta and from August 24th, shoot commences again. Will announce details of Gautham Menon's movie later.

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Ram approached MAA for remuneration...!!!

We reported earlier that Ram walked out of the film with Goutam Menon.That movie was supposed to be produced by Bellamkonda Suresh. Now we have reliably learnt the true reason behind that tiff between Ram and Bellamkonda Suresh.

Apparently, till a few days before the release of Kandireega, approximately Rs 1 crore was still to be paid to Ram as part of his remuneration for the movie. As there was no progress on the issue, Ram approached Movie Artists Association (MAA) for a settlement.

The issue was resolved and the amount was paid to Ram before the release of the movie. Kandireega has turned out to be a big hit but the whole affair seems to have left a bitter taste in the mouth for Ram and he decided to walk out of his next project with Bellamkonda Suresh.

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Kandireega - Cinema Review...!!!

Film: Kandireega

Cast: Ram, Hansika, Aksha, Sonu Sood, Swathi (guest role),  Srinivasa Reddy, M. S. Narayana, Pragathi, Raghu Babu,  Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Ajay, Chandra Mohan, Brahmanandam and others
Dialogues: Kona Venkat
Music: Taman S S
Cinematography: Andrew
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateshwara Rao
Executive producer: Mahendra
Produced by: Bellamkonda Suresh
Story and directed by: Santosh Srinivas
Release date: August 12, 2011

What's it about!
Bhavani (Sonu Sood) is a rowdy and he is in love with a student named Sruthi (Hansika). Bhavani makes sure that no body comes near to Sruthi, but the trouble is Sruthi loves an awara kind of Srinu (Ram) who doesn't care the power of Bhavani. To stop Srinu from seeing Sruthi, Bhavani kidnaps her and puts her in the house of another rowdy leader Rajanna (Jayaprakash Reddy). Srinu goes to this Rajanna's house, where another love story ensues with Rajanna's daughter Sandhya (Aksha) seeking attention of Srinu.

Analysis

Kandireega marks the debut of cinematographer Santosh Srinivas as director. The young director with the help of writer Kona Venkat plays the safe game - using time-tested elements like comedy, action and glamour in right proportions and incorporating dialogues that get claps and whistles from mass audiences. It is more of a mix of director Srinu Vytla brand of comedy and Vinayak's formula of mass elements. Especially the scenes of Chandramohan, M S Narayana, etc entering the house of Rajanna in the second half reminds you the scenes of Srinu Vytla's Ready.Ram with his energetic histrionics, performance makes the movie an entertainer.

Telugu audiences have seen these kind of movies and scenes umpteen times, yetKandireega doesn't give you boredom. That is where Kandireega scores. Though first half is breezy and entertaining, second half moves on predictable end and it is lengthy. Length of the film is a big problem.

Performances

Ram brings the liveliness to the movie and his histrionics with tint of comedy makes all the difference to otherwise regular movie. Especially in confrontational scenes with Sonu Sood, he shines. Like always, he is good at dance steps. Hansika has put on weight, yet she provides enough 'glamour quotient'. Aksha is good. Of all the films she has done, this role might give her more mileage.  Colors Swathi does cameo appearance in a song. Sonu Sood appears mostly as comic bad guy than menacing villain. Sonu Sood actually has better role in the movie and he gives his best. Too many characters are there in the movie - senior actors like Jaya Prakaksh Reddy, Chandramohan, M S Narayana, etc have done their job well in those roles.

Some dialogues are hilarious but the writer has shown his strength in giving fresh touch to the regular scenes that provided laughter. Andrew' s visuals are bright and his camera work has brought richness to the film. "Champakmala.." song is best of the pick from the Taman's compositions for this film.

As a debutant director, Santosh Srinivas passes the muster. He succeeds in making the movie a mass entertainer.

Bottom-line!
Don't expect freshness from the film but if you are looking for time-pass entertainer,Kandireega satisfies you. Kandireega is poor Xerox copy of super hit Ready and other commercial entertainers,  yet it provides enough comedy.

Rating: 3/5

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KANDIREEGA Vs DHADA (AUG 12 & AUG 11).

Kandireega Directed by Santosh Srinivas Produced by Bellamkonda Suresh Starring Ram Hansika Motwani Music by Thaman Cinematography Prasad Studio Sri Sai Ganesh Productions and Multidimension Entertainments Private Limited Release date(s) August 12, 2011 ********************************************************************************** Directed by Ajay Bhuyan Produced by D. Siva Prasad Reddy Story by Ajay Bhuyan Starring Naga Chaitanya Kajal Aggarwal Sriram Kelly Dorji Brahmanandam Samiksha Rahul Dev Mukesh Rishi Music by Devi Sri Prasad Cinematography Gnana Shekar V.S Editing by Dharmendra Kakarala Studio Sri Kamakshi Enterprises Distributed by R R Movies Release date(s) 11 August 2011

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